INDIA Bloc Leaders Rally Voters Against BJP to Safeguard Democracy

On Sunday, leaders of the INDIA bloc urged voters to reject the BJP and autocratic forces in the elections to protect the constitution and democracy. At the 'Ulgulan Nyay Mahrally' in Ranchi, leaders from around 28 parties denounced the arrests of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, accusing the BJP of using central forces like ED and CBI to harass opposition-ruled states.The BJP responded by mocking the INDIA bloc for a scuffle during their rally, calling it a display of Jungle Raj and a gathering of corrupt leaders. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the BJP-led Centre for attempting to intimidate Hemant Soren, stating that the JMM leader chose jail over abandoning the INDIA bloc. Kharge also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of insulting President Droupadi Murmu and the tribal community by not inviting her to the Ram temple consecration and Parliament building inauguration.According to Kharge, the BJP views tribals as untouchables and will be reduced to 150-180 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He vowed that the opposition would prevent any attempts to destroy the constitution. Kejriwal's wife Sunita and Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana addressed the gathering, criticising the central government for arresting their husbands on corruption charges.Sunita claimed that her husband was denied insulin while in custody, accusing the Centre of trying to kill him. She asserted that they would fight against dictatorship and win, with Kejriwal and Hemant Soren eventually being released from jail. Kalpana Soren alleged that the BJP was attempting to topple governments in opposition-ruled states and stressed that democracy must not be allowed to fail.RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav accused Modi of spreading lies and claimed that the BJP-led Centre had brought price rise, unemployment, and poverty to India. He also mocked the BJP as "Badka Jhootha Party" and said that if opposition parties united in Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, which account for 134 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP would not return to power at the Centre.National Conference president Farooq Abdullah stated that Lord Ram belongs to everyone, not just Hindus. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh criticised PM Modi for allegedly possessing a "washing powder" that instantly cleans corruption. Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav declared that the Ulgulan Rally aimed to eliminate the BJP, which he claimed had destroyed India over the past decade.Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena UBT accused ED, CBI, and I-T of being extensions of the BJP used to oppress opposition governments. TMC leader Vivek Gupta urged voters to use every vote to defeat BJP in Lok Sabha polls. CPIML leader Dipankar Bhattacharya claimed that BJP and RSS wanted to rename Jharkhand as Vananchal but only managed to spoil work in Jharkhand.Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann praised Hemant Soren and Arvind Kejriwal as popular leaders capable of defeating the saffron party. Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren stated that India's people would deliver a fitting response to the BJP. The 'Ulgulan Nyay Mahrally' was primarily organised by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), with many workers wearing Soren masks. The state BJP filed a complaint with the EC against the rally for allegedly violating the model code of conduct.